Service station



Nov. 19, 1935. G. s. CROWN kSERVICE STATION Filed Apil 6, 1933 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Snnentor m m 0 M WJ w attorneys.

Nov. 19, 1935.

G. S. CROWN..

SERVICE STATION Filed April 6, 1953 8 Sheets-Sheet' 2 Cttornegs G. S. CROWN SERVICE STATION Nov. 19, 1.935.

Filed April 6, 1933 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 @ewige X57. 07103121/ i :inventor attorneys Nov. 19, 193s. G. s, CROWN 2,021,544l

SERVICE STATI ON Filed April 6. 1933 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Geary@ 51 710mm :inventor @u f/f/ 43 M I /l I l (Ittornegs NOV. 19, 1935. G, s, CRQWN 2,021,544

SERVICE STATION Filed April 6, 1935 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 G. S. CROWN SERVICE STATION Filed April 6, 1953 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 G. S. CROWN SERVICE STATION aw. E9, 1935.

Filed April 6, 1953 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 Brwentor a Gttornegs.

G, S, CROWN SERVICE STATION Nov.. 39, 1935.

Filed April e, 1953 8 sheets-sheet a Patented Nov. 19, 1935 Unirse STATES PATENT OFFICE SERVICE STATION George Shannon Crown, Bakersfield, Calif. Applicaties April 6, 1963, serial No. 664,803

7 Claims.

This invention has for its object, the provision of what is commonly known as a gasoline filling station, novel means being provided for storing fluid in the frame work of the building,

and novel means being provided for dispensing the fluid, it being the intention to supply a de- Vice of the class described wherein a wide variety of oils, by way of illustration may be made available.

It is within the pro-vince of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in View, l5 which will appear as the description proceeds,

the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinaiter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed,

without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 shows in elevation, a filling station constructed in accordance with the invention, parts beingbroken away, and parts being in section;

Fig. 2 is a top plan, wherein parts are broken away, parts being in section;

Fig. 3 is a section taken approximately on the line 3 3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1, parts being in elevation, and parts be- 35` ing broken away;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1, parts being in elevation;

Fig. 6 is a top plan showing a portion of one y of the units of the base, some elements being in 40'. section;

' Fig. 7 is an elevation of the auxiliary tank, parts of the building being .in section;

Fig. 8V is an elevation showing a modication,

parts being broken away, and parts being in 51 section;

Fig. 9 is a section at right angles to the showing of Fig. 8, with parts in elevation;

Fig. 10 is a top plan, parts being in section, and parts being broken away;

50i' Fig. 11 is a sectional view showing a slight modification.

In the following descrip-tion, and referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 7 at this point, certain parts of the structure will first be grouped to- 55." gether, as a building, and then it will be pointed out how certain of those parts have a function as oil containers, dispensing means, etc.

The building embodies a base, which is designated generally by the numeral I. The base I comprises two parallel units, and one of those 5 units is shown in detail in Fig. 6. Each unit of the base I comprises an outer horizontal tube 2, and an inner horizontal tube 3, these tubes being parallel. In order that the base may be lengthened, slides 4 (Figs. 3 and 6) are closely but l0 movably mounted in the ends of the tubes 2 and 3. To the outer ends of the slides II, U-shaped extensions 5 are pivoted at (i, for up and down swinging movement, to facilitate the transportation of the structure from place to place, the l5 pivoted extensions 5 conforming readily to irregularities of the ground. With the same end in View, the edges of the extensions 5 are rounded off, as shown at 'I in Fig. 6 and in Fig. 1. A cab 3, for the convenience of the keeper of the iilling station, is secured to one of the extensions 5, or is mounted elsewhere.

Reverting to Fig. 6, it will be observed that the4 tubes 2 and 3 of the parallel units of the base I are connected by platforms 9, whereon are mounted the columns I il of Fig. 3, adapted for the dispensing of gasoline, or other motor fuel, in the usual way.

The side members of the base carry vertical standards Il, for the support of the roof structure, the standards preferably being placed midway between the ends of the base. The standards l I are of composite make-up. They comprise Vertical outer pipes I2 (Fig. 6) connected to and communicating with the horizontal base tubes 2, and corresponding vertical inner pipes I4, connected, as disclosed in Fig. 4, with the horizontal base tubes 3. The pipes I2 and I4 may be sustained from the corresponding base-elements 2 and 3 by the inclined braces I5 of Figs. '3 and 6. 40 The pipes I2 and I4 may be cross-connected by lattice braces I5, which are indicated with suicient clarity by the dotted line showing of Fig. 1.

Hollow, horizontal frame members Il (Figs. 5 l and 1) are secured to the outer vertical pipes I2 45 of the standards II. Hollow beams I 8 (Fig. 5) are arranged at right angles to the frame members Il. Most of the beams I8 are located between the frame members I'I, but the end beams I8 extend across the ends of the frame members 50 I1, and are secured thereto. The hollow beams I8 are not in communication with the frame members I'I. Spacers I9 join the beams I8 together, as Fig. 5 will show. A ceiling 20 (Fig. 3) is carried by the beams I8. 55

On the beams I8, at right angles thereto, are placed rafters ZI (Fig. 3), the rafters being secured to the beams by brackets 22. The rafters 2| carry a roof 23, which may be sustained by the inclined braces 24 of Fig. 4, and, indeed, bracing may be resorted to Wherever necessary, that being a structural detail which may be left to the judgment of the builder. The roof 23 carries an upstanding marginal wall 25, to which are secured the vertical posts 25 of Fig. 1, these posts supporting a narrow rigid canopy 21.

Above the roof 23 are located hollow beams 28 (Figs. 3 and 2), arranged at right angles to the rafters 2-I. Cap plates 29 (Figs. 2 and 1) are secured to the upper ends of the verticalpipes I2Y and I4 that form parts of the roof-supporting standards II. To enable the operator to get to the roof 23, the same is provided with a removable hatch cover 30 (Figs. 1 and 2), and the operator can climb to the hatch cover on foldable ladder rungs 3| mounted on the frame members I1, and on rectangular casings 32, forming j 39, secured to the casings 32, or mounted otherwise. Weights 40 are connected to the iiexible elements 36, and slide in the guides 39. The weights 4D and the iiexible elements 35 draw the water hoses 35 up into the out-of-the-way position of Fig. 3, but an operator can pull each hose 35 down, when there is occasion for using it to fill a radiator on a car,'or for any other purpose.

Having described the framework of the building generally, the oil-holding and dispensing structure will be coi-related with the elements of the building.

Each of the horizontal tubes 2 and 3 is divided, intermediate its ends by a partition 4 I, shown in Fig. 4. In each of the vertical pipes i2 and i4 there is a transverse inclined partition 42. There results, as a consequence, eight L-shaped storage compartments 43 for oil or the like, it being possible to lill these storagev compartments through street Ls 44, mounted'on the pipes I2 and i4, and shown in Fig. 4.

It appears in Figs. 5 and 1 that the outer vertical pipes I2 have holes 45 that communicate with the hollow frame members I1. Thus, there are formed first oil chambers, composed of the hollow frame members I'f and so much of the pipes I 2 as lie above the corresponding partitions 42 of Fig. 4. The oil can be dra-wn out of the first oil chambers above described, by means of faucets 45 (Fig. 1) mounted on the pipes i2. The faucets 45 are disposed above a lower drin pan 41. There are two of these drip pans 41, as Fig. 4 will show, and they are mounted in cabinets 48, carried by the casings 32, the cabinets having movable closures 49. All drip pans may have drains BIJ.

Passing to Fig. 3, Vit will be observed that there are holes in the inner vertical pipes I4; the holes 5I) communicating with the ends of the hollow beams 28. There are formed, therefore,

second oil chambers, which comprise the beams 28 and so much of the vertical pipes i4 as lie above the partitions 42 or Fig. 4. Oil is drawn from the second oil chambers above defined, through faucets 5I, carried by the pipes i4, and having their own drip pan 41, located within the corresponding cabinet 48.

Third oil chambers are provided, and each of these chambers is represented by one of the hcllow beams I8 of Fig. 5. Pipes 52 are connecte 10 to the ends of the hollow beams i8, and lead downwardly through the standards Il' to a plurality of faucets 53, disposed above the faucets 5I and 46, and having their own drip pan 54, which may be supported on the faucets 5l and 15 45. The faucets 53, and those hereinbefore and hereinafter mentioned, are located within the cabinets 48.

A plurality of fourth oil chambers are provided, and are in the form of containers 55, supported 2O by the beams 28 of Fig. 2, and disposed' beneath the canopy 21. Figure 1 shows that each of the containers is connected at 56 to a pipe 51, and these pipes lead downwardly into the standards I I, so that oil from any one of the containers 55 25 may be drawn off from within the cabinets 48. The faucets for the pipes 51 are marked by the numeral 58, and are in a horizontal line with the faucets 5I and 45, above the drip pans 41.

Oil can be introduced intothe first and second oil chambers through filling plugs 59, disposed above the cap plates 29 of the pipes I2 and I4, and communicating with those pipes. Each of the hollow beams I8 (Fig. 3) has its own filling connection 59 (Fig. 2), located above the roof 23. 35; The filling plugs for the containers 55 are shown at 6| in Fig. 2.

Sometimes an additional supply of oil for one or more of the hollow beams I8 may be required, and then the tank 52 of Fig. '1 is used, the tank 40"; 62 being joined temporarily to the connection 60, above the roof 23, by a union 63, containing a valve 64, under the control of an operator.

The filling of the various oil chambers may be brought about in the way that suits the operator 45'.' best. Preferably, the o-il filling line 35 of Fig. 1 is joined to a vertical pipe 55, which extends upwardly through one of the standards I I, to a point above the roof 23. To the upper end of the pipe 5E, a flexible hose 1 is connected, and it may 50'? be coiled down on the roof, when not in use. The operator, however, can extend the hose 61 to any of the filling plugs, such as the parts 59, 63 or 6I of Fig. 2.

Air pressure can be put on the various oil cham- 55" bers. This is done through a vertical pipe 58 (Fig. 1) in communication with a source of fluid pressure supply (not shown). The Vertical pipe 68 is joined to a horizontal pipe 59, conneced at 19 to the containers 55, and connected at 1! to 00" the vertical pipes I2 and I4 of the standards !I, through the cap plates 29.

A dispensing truck 'i2 (Fig. 1), useful for many purposes, is provided. It carries an air compressor 13 driven by an engine 14, or other motor. 06'. discharging into a pressure tank 15 having a pipe 1G, with branches 11 leading to oil tanks 18 on the truck 12, each oil tank having its own outlet hose 19. If the operato-r wishes, he can couple either hose 19 to the oil filling line 35 of Fig. 1.70' for the replenishment of any of the oil chambers supplied by the pipe @5 and its hose 51.

The faucets 58 draw through the pipes 51 from the containers 55. The faucets 45 draw through the vertical pipes I2 from the frame members I 1. 'IlV ends of the sockets I I4, and may be nuts threaded u The faucets 5| draw through the vertical pipes I4 from the hollow beams 28. The faucets 53 draw through the. pipes 52 and the hollow beams I8.

In the form shown in Figs'. 8, 9 and 10, the base is marked by the numeral 8 I, and comprises parallel units, as hereinbei'ore described. The units of the base embody parallel channels 82, and assembled with the channels, at one side of the base, or at both sides, if desired, is a tank 83, having a connection 84, ihrough which the tank may be filled. The numeral 85 designates a hose which may be either the filling hose or the dispensing hose. The tank 83 carries a connection 86 for air pressure, to force the contents of the tank 83 out through the hose 85, it being possible to use the contents of the tank to ll the hollow, oil-containing members in the superstructure or for any other purpose.

The supporting standards for the superstructure are marked generally by the numeral 81, and comprise vertical channels or posts 88, surrounded throughout the major portion of their length by casings 89, corresponding to the casings 32. The lower ends of the posts 88 are secured to the channel members 82 of the base 8|. The upper ends of the channel posts 88 are encased, as shown at 98 and the upper ends of the posts are housed by cap plates 9 I, corresponding to the cap plates 29.

On the parallel units of the base I are mounted dispensing columns 92, for the motor fuel, and the fuel passes to the dispensing columns through pipes 83, entering tanks 84, arranged under ground, or elsewhere. There may be as many of the dispensing columns 82 and the corresponding tanks 94 as desired. Vent pipes 85 are connected to the tanks 94, and extend upwardly between the channel posts 88 of the standards 81.

A foundation 88 is arranged between the parallel units of the base 8|, and on opposite sides of the foundation there are guard walls 91. A cab 98 is mounted on the foundation 96 and has double-swinging doors 39. Electric lamps are mounted on the cab 98, and wherever else the operator wishes to put them.

The superstructure comprises a rectangular frame |0I, `embodying inwardly facing channels |02, which may be reenforced, at the corners of the superstructure, byv angle bars |03. to the inner surfaces of the vertical walls of Vthe channels |02 is a supplemental frame I|2 made up of outwardly-facing channels |04. Outer Z- bars are secured at their ends to the opposed members |04 of the auxiliary frame, and are secured intermediate their ends to the outer vertical posts 88. Inner Z-bars |86 bear a similar relation to the said members |04 of the auxiliary7 frame, and to the inner` vertical posts 88, as Fig. will show. Crossed braces |01 connect the bars |06. Turnbuckle braces |08 connect the inner posts 88 with the roof frame, and similar braces |09 connect the outer posts 88 with the roof frame. A ceiling I I0 is joined'to the lower horizontal flanges of the channels |02 of the roof frame |0I. Intermediate Z-bars I extend across the frame and are in line with the inner vertical posts 88.

Depending tubular sockets I'I4 are secured to the ceiling IIB and to any solid parts that lie above it. In the sockets I4 are received threaded projections |I5 extending upwardly with respect to the cab 98. Specifically, the projections I|5 are the upper ends of posts III, built into the cab 98. Adjustable supports I Il engage the lower Secured on the upper ends I5 of the posts I6. The construction is such, obviously, that by turning the nuts Il, the entire roof structure may be adjusted up or down, in the building of the filling 5 station.

Inclined turnbuckle braces II8 connect the posts I I8 with the superstructure that carries the roof |I9, the roof being mounted on beams |20,

located above the channels |84, the bars |08, and w.

elsewhere, if desired.

The water supply pipe |2| of Fig. 10 is located in the superstructure, and to it are connected the exible hose members |22, raised to an inoperative position by the weight, pulley and cord` mechanism hereinbefore described, and designated, Vin the modification, as a whole, by the numeral |23. y Hollow beams |24 are disposed in the superstructure, above the ceiling III), and extend between the Z-bars |85. Each of the hollow beams |24 is provided at its end with a gauge glass |25, located in the superstructure. From the hollow beams |24, pipes |26 extend downwardly through the standards 8l, to faucets corresponding to 25v those shown in Fig. 1, the said faucets being disposed, as before, in cabinets |21 on the casings 89 of the standards 8l, the cabinets having the movable closures |28, hereinbefore mentioned.

Access is had to the roof IIS by foldable ladder 30A rungs |29, located on one of the standards 8l, and on the roof frame IOI, as shown in Fig. 8.

The filling connections fo-r the hollow beams |24 extend above the roof I 29 and are marked by the numeral |30. brought about by taking oil the caps I3I on the flllingrconneotions. The filling connections |30 are joined at |32 to a manifold pipe |33 that carries air under pressure, the intermediate portion of the manifold pipe |33 being connected 40 to a fluid pressure supply pipe |34.

The general operation of the form shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 will be understood readily in View of what has been stated in connection with A the form rst described. Air pressure is put on the hollow beams |20 by way of the pipe |34, and the liquid leaves the beam and passes to the faucets through the pipes |28,

vlligure 11 shows a slight modification which may be employed where it is desired to have a greater variety of oils and is provided for hereinbefore. According to Fig. 1l, any desired number of containers 500, resembling the containers |24 of Fig. 10, for instance, may be placed under ground, or elsewhere, each container having a filling pipe 50| and an air pressure line 502. The delivery pipe for each container 588 is marked by the numeral 503, leading upwardly to a faucet 504, which may be placed among the lower faucets 5| or v58 of Fig. 4.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. Dispensing mechanism for a filling station of the type in which a motor car is driven between spaced standards and beneath a canopy supported at its sides and intermediate its ends on the standards, the dispensing mechanism ernbodying vertical standards carrying the canopy and spaced to receive a motor car between them, the lower portions of the standards being hollow, means for supporting the standards at their lower ends on the ground, said means embodying hollow, horizontal members connected intermediate their ends to the hollow lower portions of the standards, the hollow horizontal members and the The filling operation may be 35I eef:

lower portions of the standards constituting liquid-containers, and inlet and outlet means for the said liquid-containers.

2. Dispensing mechanism for a filling station of the type in which a motor car is driven between spaced standards and beneath a canopy supported at its sides and intermediate its ends upon the standards, the dispensing mechanism embodying spaced pairs of vertical standards having hollow upper portions, approximately horizontal hollow beams located at each side of the station, the beams at each side of the station extending from the standards toward opposite ends of the station, the beams carrying the canopy, the inner end of each beam being connected to one of the Standards and being in communication with the hollow upper portion of that standard, whereby the beams and the hollow upper portions of the standards form liquid-containers, means for admitting liquid to said liquid-containers, means on the hollow upper portions of the standards for drawing liquid from said liquid-containers, and means for supporting the standards from the ground.

3. Dispensing mechanism for a lling station of the type in which a motor car is driven between spaced standards, the dispensing mechanism embodying vertical standards, spaced to receive a motor car between them, and having hollow upper portions, a hollow member connecting the hollow upper portion of the standard at one side of the station with the hollow upper portion of the standard at the opposite side of the station and communicating therewith, the hollow member and the hollow upper portions of the standards forming a liquid-container, means for admitting liquid to said container, means on the hollow upper portions of the standards for drawing liquid from said container, and means for supporting the standards from the ground.

4. A device or" the class described, constructed as set forth in claim 3, in combination with horizontally disposed, approximately parallel cylindrical tanks mounted upon the hollow member and supported thereby, the tanks being arranged transversely of the hollow member, means for admitting liquid to the tanks, and means for holding the tanks against rolling movement on the hollow member, in xed spaced relation to each other and to the standards, the last-speciiied means embodying rigid outlet pipes connected to the lower portions of the tanks and to the standards, and extended downwardly along the standards, the last-specified means also comprising a iiuid pressure pipe disposed above the standards, and above the tanks, and having branches extended downwardly and connected to the upper portions of the tanks and to the upper portions of the standards, some of the branches communicating with the upper portions of the tanks, and others of the branches communicating with the hollow upper portions of the standards.

5. Dispensing mechanism for a filling station of the type in which a motor car is driven between spaced standards and beneath a canopy supported at its sides and intermediate its ends on the standards, the dispensing mechanism comprising vertical standards spaced to receive a motor car between them, each standard comprising vertical pipes, approximately parallel hollow intermediate and terminal members built into the canopy and forming a supporting part thereof, the hollow members also constituting liquidcontainers, outlet pipes connected to the liquidcontainers and leading downwardly along the standards, means on the lower portions of the outlet pipes, adjacent to the standards, for governing the flow through the outlet pipes, means for holding the hollow members together, hollow beams disposed on opposite sides of the pipes of the standards and projecting outwardly in opposite directions, with respect to the pipes of the standards, the hollow beams being arranged at right angles to the hollow members and being connected at their outer ends to the terminal hollow members in supporting relation thereto, the hollow beams being connected at their inner ends to the pipes of the standards, in communicating relation therewith, the terminal hollow members constituting the closures for the outer ends of the hollow beams, whereby hollow beams and the pipes of the standards will constitute liquid-containers, means on the pipes of the standards for drawing liquid from the last-speciiied containers, and means for supporting the pipes of the standards from the ground.

6. Dispensing mechanism for a filling station of the type in which a motor car is driven between spaced standards and beneath a canopy supported at its sides and intermediate'its ends upon the standards, the dispensing mechanism embodying standards spaced to receive a motor car between them, each standard comprising a pair of inner vertical pipes, and a pair of outer vertical pipes, horizontal outer beams built into the canopy at the sides of the station and having their inner ends secured to and in communication with the outer vertical pipes of the standards, the beams and the pipes constituting liquidcontainers, the weight and the liquid load of which are carried by the outer vertical pipes, means for admitting liquid to the said containers, means on the outer pipes for drawing liquid from the said containers, other hollow beams connecting the inner pipes of one standard with the inner pipes of the opposite standard, said other beams and the inner pipes of the standards constituting liquid-containers the weight and the liquid load of which are carried by the inner vertical pipes, means for admitting liquid to the last-specied containers, means on the inner pipes, for drawing liquid from the last-specied containers, and means on the lower portions of the pipes of the standards for supporting the standards from the ground.

7. Dispensing mechanism embodying vertical standards, means for supporting the standards at their lower ends on the ground, hollow beams eX- tended' between the standards and arranged approximately in a horizontal plane, the beams forming liquid containers, means for supporting the hollow beams upon the standards at such a height above the ground that a motor car may be driven beneath them, the beams being long enough to space the standards apart sumciently so that a motor car can be driven between the standards, a roof into which the beams are built, the beams having filling connections extended upwardly through the roof, the roof serving as a walking-place for an operator wishing access to the filling connections, liquid discharge means leading downwardly from the beams, along the standards, and means for opening and closing the liquid discharge means from a point on the ground.

GEORGE SHANNON CROWN. 

